What is the key difference between Mcp Obsidian and ZenVault?

Mcp Obsidian belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution, while ZenVault belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution.

How do I install Mcp Obsidian or ZenVault in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Mcp Obsidian and ZenVault free or paid?

Mcp Obsidian operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). ZenVault operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Mcp Obsidian lists 6 tools with 2 views and 1,603 GitHub stars. ZenVault lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Mcp Obsidian and ZenVault together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

How do I install Mcp Obsidian or ZenVault in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Mcp Obsidian and ZenVault free to use, or do they require API keys?

Mcp Obsidian is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . ZenVault operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Mcp Obsidian and ZenVault at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both bitbonsai-mcp-obsidian and zenvault as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Mcp Obsidian has a Quality Score of 67 /100 ( Great ) with 2 views, 0 installs, and 1,603 GitHub stars. ZenVault holds a Quality Score of 42 /100 ( Fair ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Mcp Obsidian vs ZenVault

In-depth architectural comparison of the Mcp Obsidian and ZenVault MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Mcp Obsidian

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 67/100 (Great) | Auth: No auth required

ZenVault

Knowledge & Memory · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 42/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Mcp Obsidian if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a local process. Choose ZenVault if your workspace requires Knowledge & Memory integration with remote web transport. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Mcp Obsidian when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: Safe YAML frontmatter parsing and AST-aware updates, File operations: read, write, patch, delete, move notes/files, Partial reads: get note outlines and specific line ranges.

Explore Mcp Obsidian Details

Choose ZenVault when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore ZenVault Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Mcp Obsidian bitbonsai Knowledge & Memory	Z ZenVault Knowledge & Memory
Summary	Universal AI bridge for Obsidian vaults using MCP. Provides safe read/write access to notes with 11 comprehensive methods for vault operations including search, batch operations, tag management, and frontmatter handling. Works with Claude, ChatGPT, and any MCP-compatible AI assistant.	Wake-ups, webhook inboxes, TTL memory, watches and human approval for agents. Paid per call.
Category & Scope	Knowledge & Memory

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Mcp Obsidian Tools (6)

Safe YAML frontmatter parsing and AST-aware updates

File operations: read, write, patch, delete, move notes/files

Partial reads: get note outlines and specific line ranges

Directory listing and batch reading of notes

Search with BM25 relevance reranking

Tag management: add, remove, list tags

ZenVault Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Mcp Obsidian Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bitbonsai-mcp-obsidian": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/inspector"
      ]
    }
  }
}

ZenVault Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zenvault": {
      "url": "https://zenvault.eu"
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Mcp Obsidian is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, ZenVault belongs to Knowledge & Memory using remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. Select Mcp Obsidian when you need capabilities focused on knowledge & memory and ZenVault when you require tools for knowledge & memory.

More alternatives to Mcp Obsidian More alternatives to ZenVault Knowledge & Memory category hub